1.3 What To Expect When You're Expecting

Training, Preparation and Cost

Well, you did it!! You chose a CPA!! (and I hope it was AWFC or one just as good, if there is such a thing!)

Now the fun part begins, training and preparation for that new little boy or girl that you will be loving on soon!

Your CPA will schedule training with you and that could happen a few different ways. You can go to them every week for several weeks, you can have a lot of it in 2 weekends, or they can come to you, it all depends on your CPA.

I recommend getting a training notebook, a 1-2" binder works great, some dividers or plastic page protectors, highlighters and different color pens and a calendar.

See my training notebooks below! 

Nothing fancy, just a 1 1/2 inch binder! 

You will need a calendar to make note of the things you will be responsible for scheduling, including but not limited too:

- Fire Inspection ($0-$100)
- Health Inspection ($0-$100)
- TB Test (approx. $15/ per person, every peson in the home over 1 needs a TB Test)
- Fire Extinguisher Inspection ($5 for inspection, approx. $40 for fire extinguisher)
- Trainings
- CPR (adult and child and infant) ($25-$60/ per person, some CPA's offer CPR free of charge)
- FBI Fingerprints (approx. $35/per person)
- Homestudy

Once a child is placed in your home a calendar will NOT be an option, so ya might as well get used to it now!

****TIP**** make a copy of EVERYTHING you turn in and make a note at the top of the copy that includes the date the document is turned in and who it was turned it in to, it doesn't have to be anything fancy something like the picture works great for us! As good as your CPA is your case manager is still human, and truth be told there's not a lot of people that want to do his/her job, creating a lot of work for few people, so knowing when and who you turned your documents into can save a lot of time and headache down the road if a document gets lost or misplaced.

(Like this, simple right!?) 

Now I know your anxious to start decorating the room or buying those teeney tiny clothes or getting some cool magazines and headphones for that teenager, well go ahead!! Collecting a little a time is much easier on the pocket book later on and it will make your child feel a little more welcome when he or she comes in that first day!

I recommend having 24 hours worth of clothes/supplies for every age you are licensed for. For example, if you are licensed for ages 0-8 girls and boys, have at least one outfit in every size for both genders and a set of pajamas, underwear, a toothbrush, hairbrush, a variety of shoes, and several sizes of diapers in a few different brands, wipes, different types of bottles, formula, pacifiers, blankets, and a car seat.  I know your thinking it's going to cost you a fortune to do that but trust me on this, it won't! Shop garage sales, Facebook buy, sale, trade pages, clearance isles (I love Target and Old Navy clearance!) People love to help (and clean out their closets) and if your friends and family know that you are gathering things for your future kiddos, I promise you will have more than you need!

I'm going to focus a little more on babies right now because that is what we are anticipating. I often get opened packages of diapers that someone's baby has out grown before using the whole package for a few dollars. Sign up on for formula samples and companies will mail you samples so you have a variety! (you never know which one is going to work for a baby!) 

I DO NOT recommend a second hand car seat unless you know the person, it is NOT expired and you know it has not been in a wreck. Educate yourself on car seat safety. 

I get all other baby equipment, bouncers, swings, bassinet, high chairs, etc on Facebook buy sale trade pages! 

FOSTER PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE DOORWAY JUMPERS, WALKERS, OR VIDEO BABY MONITORS. Please see a complete list of items that are prohibited by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

What To Expect When You're Expecting...Intro!

What to Expect When Your Expecting- Foster Care Edition

You read right! And YES! its what your thinking! I know you're think were crazy right? We have enough on our plate? Why would we want any more kids? We should just take care of the ones we have? Trust me, if your thinking it we have already heard it and it's OK, we understand why you would think that. We get it, we really do and sometimes we have thought the same things and that's why we closed our home and said we are DONE, done with CPS, caseworkers, visits, bio families, therapy, doctor appointments, case managers, medication logs, training, fire escape drills, dumb rules, and the list goes on.

We have turned in our paperwork, trained for hours, prepared our boys, even bought a bigger car, gathered bouncers, swings, bought diapers, collected clothes, and our home study is complete all while reluctantly saying YES and admitting we were wrong to close our home. We have prayed so many nights about this decision after putting this off for so many months. We have had confirmation that the direction of our life is of the Lord's will and we have never felt so sure that we are fulfilling God's purpose for our life! We're on the list, waiting for the newborn that needs to held, fed, and loved and I hope that you will support our family on this journey (again)!

Along with prayers, extra hands and your support you can help other foster parents and A World For Children by clicking here and following the directions and voting for Brown County- A World For Children for $2500 to be granted to a non-profit organization!

So now that your caught up I am planning on writing a series of post on the subject of foster care. A series of post that will walk you through the good and bad of the days, weeks and months of  preparation before bringing a hurt, sad, traumatized child [and their trash bags] into your home. The series will include tips on how to chose the  right agency, how to deal with judgmental reactions, how to prepare your home for the [nerve wracking] home-study, the basic necessities, questions you may have and I am hoping to compile a list of resources for when you welcome that first kiddo into your home! Feel free to leave any comments or questions you would like me to address! Hope you enjoy this and bare with me, this is the first series I have ever done!